Janus: November Newsletter

Over the past two months, the UK defence innovation ecosystem has demonstrated its breadth and momentum. From quantum technologies and space resilience to cyber security and procurement reform, the pace of change is accelerating and so are the opportunities.

This edition brings together insights from recent events including Cyber Futures in Cardiff, London Defence Tech Week and the Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit and deeptech breakthroughs.

Also featured in this newsletter:

• New Janus Pathfinder series event: From workbench to warfighter - building tech that matters

• Quantum Technologies in UK Defence: Highlights from the 3rd NATO Transatlantic Quantum Community (TQC) Industry Network Event

• Unlocking Defence IP: The UK’s Hidden Innovation Goldmine

• Insights from our recent events: Cyber Innovation Hub & past Janus Pathfinder series

• Other news: London Defence Tech Week; Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit; Sifted Summit; and other deep tech news.

Janus Pathfinder series: From workbench to warfighter – building tech that matters

Join us online for an exclusive session with Chris Manuel, former US Army Special Forces, aerospace VP and defence tech founder, as he shares practical strategies for building technology that matters for warfighters.

In conversation with Tanya Suarez (Founder and CEO of IoT Tribe), Chris will cover:

• A proven model for problem-solving in high-stakes environments

• Leadership and innovation insights from 33 years of service and industry experience

• How to scale dual-use technologies for defence and commercial markets

Date: Wednesday 10 December 2025

Time: 16:00–17:00 GMT

Location: Online

Quantum Technologies in UK Defence: Highlights from the 3rd NATO TQC Industry Network Event

The UK quantum community joined NATO allies, industry leaders, and government stakeholders to explore how quantum technologies can shift from research to real-world defence capability. Dr Stephen Moore (MoD) set the tone, followed by panels featuring Tracey North (UKDI-DASA), Rachel Maze (DSIT), Laurie Gregory (MoD Commercial X) and Robin Verbruggen (Resonance), discussing funding, procurement and partnerships as critical enablers.

A second panel with Andrei Dragomir, Lucy Maidwell (MBDA), Richard Murray (ORCA Computing), Robert Turnbull-Hall (QinetiQ) and Andre Turville (Morphose Capital Partners) tackled barriers to adoption. Chester Butterworth (Royal Navy) shared how the Armed Forces are advancing quantum at pace. With £14M in new government funding announced, quantum is accelerating beyond defence into health, energy and more.

Some of the reoccurring themes throughout the day were:

• Clear Integration Pathways  – Quantum solutions must include practical roadmaps showing how they fit into existing defence systems.

• Partnerships Bridging Invention and Implementation – Collaboration between government, industry and innovators is essential to turn breakthroughs into deployable capabilities.

• Accelerated Adoption Through Funding and Procurement – Flexible funding models and streamlined procurement processes are key to scaling quantum technologies quickly and effectively.

Unlocking Defence IP: The UK’s Hidden Innovation Goldmine

The UK government is doubling down on defence innovation. The latest Strategic Defence Review and the creation of UK Defence Innovation (UKDI) signal a major push to drive fundamental change in how defence IP is identified, unlocked and developed across multiple sectors.

Achieving this requires six foundational shifts:

1. Strong leadership with clear ownership and accountability for IP management.

2. Targeted investment with coordinated funding pathways across the lifecycle of technologies.

3. Greater visibility through centralised catalogues that match problems with solutions.

4. Adaptable procurement models to enable cross-sector application.

5. Enhanced partnerships between government, industry primes and SMEs.

6. Cross-platform integration through intermediaries bridging invention and implementation.

The Technology and Growth Alliance will drive these changes, creating ventures, jobs and exports while ensuring public investment delivers long-term impact.

Janus Pathfinder series insights

Accelerating technologies into defence with QinetiQ

At “Accelerating technologies into defence with QinetiQ”, we explored how SMEs can navigate a complex market with a single national customer and multiple entry routes.

One proven strategy? Supply chain integration through established defence players.

Victoria Doherty (QinetiQ) and Graedon Crouch (MoD) shared three key pathways for SME collaboration:

• Futures Lab – Introduced by Graedon, this MoD platform enables early-stage collaboration across industry and academia.

• Test & Evaluation Innovation Gateway – SME access to QinetiQ facilities for tech validation.

• Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) – Fast-track environment for rapid solution deployment.

These initiatives make engagement easier, faster and more impactful, ensuring innovation moves from lab to front line.

Navigating the defence startup legal landscape

At “Navigating the defence startup legal landscape”, we explored unique challenges of working in the UK defence sector: a highly specialised, tightly regulated market with a single national customer and multiple complex entry routes.

Toby McCrindle and Phil Robison from Mishcon de Reya LLP, shared their expertise and practical insights on this crucially important topic. Whether it’s MoD contracts, fundraising, or export controls, the right legal foundations are critical to scaling, protecting IP and securing investment from VCs who understand the sector.

Key takeaways included:

• Actionable legal insights into defence procurement contracts

• Tips on structuring deals and managing compliance in dual-use sectors​

In defence innovation, the right legal foundations don’t just protect your ideas, they enable them to scale, create impact and shape the future of national security.

Cyber Futures in Defence & Security Forum: Cardiff highlights

We were delighted to host the Cyber Futures in Defence & Secure Forum at the Cyber Innovation Hub in Cardiff: a gathering of researchers, founders, investors and government partners to shape how cyber innovation can sharpen UK resilience and open new commercial pathways.

Key themes raised in the discussion included:

• Making compliance feel like an opportunity, not an obstacle

• Unlocking new founding opportunities

• Turning research into real-world impact

• Strengthening Wales’s cyber ecosystem

• Changing how we talk about defence

This was more than a forum, it was proof of what’s possible when university, industry and government act in unison.  

In other news

1. At the London Defence Tech Week a unifying theme emerged: the critical need to connect innovative SMEs with the strategic requirements of Defence Primes and government. The message was clear: the future of national security depends on a fully integrated defence ecosystem. By harnessing the energy and insights of this week, we can ensure SMEs reach their full potential and deliver capabilities that benefit end users faster.

2. The defence community came together at the inaugural Defence Procurement & Supply Chain Summit, spotlighting the UK government’s ambition to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035. This bold commitment signals more than increased funding, it reflects a long-term strategy to rebuild sovereign capabilities from the ground up. The challenge now is ensuring that this investment delivers real impact: driving innovation, supporting the full defence ecosystem and making sure economic benefits reach beyond traditional large defence primes.

3. Resilience was the central theme of this year’s Sifted Summit: a standout session featured European founders and investors. The discussion highlighted how founders are navigating the risks, red tape and complex realities of building in defence: the European defence tech boom is real, driven by a surge of investment from new funds; startups still face hurdles, including slow procurement processes and limited access to end users; the definition of defence is expanding beyond weapons to encompass national resilience.

4. The European Space Agency (ESA) has launched a €1 billion initiative to bolster Europe’s space resilience. The programme will pool national space assets and develop capabilities in intelligence, surveillance and secure communications, forming a backbone for European security against modern threats. Space innovation is no longer purely curiosity-driven: it is now a critical pillar of national and international security, powering industries across the continent.

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